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Saturday, September 21, 2013

Cage by Harper Sloan

** 5 out of 5 Stars **

**WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD**

Greg Cage was born to protect While growing up, he was his mother and sister's shield against the world...until he failed. For the last decade, he has carried that guilt and need for vengeance around...until it was stripped from him. Now with his best friend getting married and no longer needing his protection, he is even more lost, completely adrift, and desperate for some control. All he has ever known was how to protect: his family, his friends, and his country Can he go against everything he has ever known, and give up that control?Melissa Larson will never let anyone hold the reins in her life. She has been the rock in her family for more years than she can remember, and the fight to keep them together is her main priority right now. She has always been fiercely independent and proud. The last thing she will ever do is ask for someone else's help. But when that choice is out of her control, forcing her to rely on others to save her and her family, and pick up the pieces that are left, will she be able to let someone else be her strength?The second Greg locks eyes with Meli, he knows that she is someone he needs. Someone he craves. Meli knew the second she met Greg that he would be nothing but trouble and heartache. Her life takes an unexpected turn, and that bitch Fate is back to wreak more havoc on another member of the Corps family.All hell breaks loose, leaving Greg no choice but to call in a favor. He hooks back up with his old friend Braxxon Breaker from the Breakneck MC. Together, they make sure that nothing threatens anyone Greg loves again.
MY REVIEW...

Well Harper Sloan has done it again! Cage is the second installment of the Corps Security series. This book was wonderful. I fell in love with Greg Cage in Axel. When I learned he was getting his own books I was excited. I waited and waited...impatiently I might add and I wasn't disappointed. We get a better look into who Cage is and what he's about. If I am being honest, I didn't really like the heroine. I don't really know why I didn't but I just didn't get a good feel for her. The story revolves around all of our favorite Corps men and their women. It was nice to get to revisit with Axel and Izzy. I was very intrigued with the other side stories as well and can't wait to read them. This book is done in dual POV which I love! We also got to revisit another character that I'm in love with. When everything goes haywire and Cage needs back up he calls...BRAXX! Yes, Braxxon Breaker from Crystal Spear's Breakneck Series! If you haven't read Seize Me you need to do! Amazing book! There is a lot of angst toward the end of the book. It took awhile to build for me but once it had me it was one heck of a ride! All in all, Cage is a great book and I loved every second of it!

BOOK SUMMARY...

Cage is...Cage. He's 6'4, gorgeous, and amazing. He's a Marine who will do anything to protect the ones he loves. After the way he was toward Izzy in Axel I just knew when he finally fell in love it would be fiercely. He has a strong sense of family. He's protective, fierce and all alpha...plus he adores kids! He's also pierced and I have a thing for tattooed and pierced men. He's got 3 piercings in umm...places :)

Melissa has had a hard go of it. She's working for a doctor, living in a rat hole of an apartment, driving a pos vehicle, and trying to support her family while dealing with the loss of her sister. She isn't looking for love and wants no part of it. She's strong, independent and mouthy.

The book begins with Cage. He's having sex with a void filler named Mandy. He's told her time and time again that it's just sex but this girl isn't taking a hint. He gets a phone call right in the middle of sex and actually answers it. He has to take Izzy and Axel's son to the doctor and this is where he meets Meli for the first time. He's immediately smitten and wants to know more. But when the baby gets sick and he has to deal with that she disappears.

Cage's sister was murdered by her husband years ago. He can't prove it and after going off the deep end for awhile he wants revenge. He's driven by guilt and is determined to find it. This comes into play a little later in the story.

At Izzy's bachlorette party Cage and Meli run into each other again. The attraction between them is so strong they almost have sex on the dance floor. Things are going well much to the amusement of their friends until Mandy shows up and goes psycho. Meli wants no part of that drama and leaves. Cage takes Mandy upstairs to put her in her place but ends up having sex with her again....even though he tells her he is thinking about Meli while he's doing it.

Axel and Izzy get married. At the wedding stalker girl shows up again and he once again tells her they are done and then pursues Meli. He finally talks her into going home with him and once there they catch fire. The sex scenes are hot and they are amazing together. They talk about the connection the next morning both agreeing that it can't be ignored any longer. Stalker shows up again and he has to handle it again. He's pretty sure he's got his point across. Cage and Meli spend the weekend locked in his house.

"But, I can tell you that if the way I feel for you now keeps growing, there isn't an army strong enough to pull me out. Spent too long wanting someone worth it and as crazy as it sounds? One look baby...it took one look that even being covered in Nate's vomit couldn't dim how bright that beauty knocked me down."

We also find out they have very similar pasts. Meli's sister was killed by the same man that killed Cage's sister. He realizes this but doesn't tell her. The only difference in the stories is that Meli has a nephew that lives with her mother. Her sister wanted her to have custody of Cohen, whose 3, but with the hours she has to work to support them, it's just not possible.

Mandy shows up at Meli's job and causes a huge scene that ends up getting her fired. This chick is batsh** crazy. Like certifiable! When Meli comes out of her office, Mandy is slashing her tires. Having had enough, Meli charges the girl and they end up fighting in the parking lot with Mandy screeching like a banshee. Meli gets cut in the process but isn't seriously hurt. Cage shows up and handles the situation. He takes her home and tells her he'll handle the issues with her job. This is the beginning of them as an official "us".

"Greg, you have the power to not only get in but to destroy me if you ever want back out."

A month passes and things are running smoothly. He refuses to let her go back to her apartment. He says it's not safe and slowly her stuff keeps getting moved into his house. He also buys her a car because of how old hers is. She tells him she wants Cohen to live with her and he's up for it. The little boy starts spending weekends with them at Cage's house. Cage and Cohen are instant buddies and Cage begins to fall in love with Cohen. They begin planning their lives together as a family. He still hasn't told her that he knows about her sister.

They tell each other they love each other for the first time when he admits that he loves Cohen.

A few weeks later he goes home and crashes after a really bad day at work. While he's asleep he misses the phone calls of his friends. Meli was out to dinner with Izzy and their friends when Mandy corners her in the bathroom. She overheard Cage talking about his secret to Axel and she tells Meli. She goes home with Izzy and he's frantic when he can't find her. Axel calls him and lets him know that she's safe but to stay away. He spends a restless night thinking he's lost her. He goes to see her mother and talks to her and after she reassures him that everything will be fine he goes home to wait. Meli comes home and she's no longer mad and has already forgiven him. He looks awful and she's worried about him. He's been crying and she can't handle it. They end up having make up sex against the wall and things are fine.

3 months later she has officially moved in with him, Cohen is staying with them more than with her mother, and Mandy isn't an issue any longer. She's been admitted to some place to deal with her issues. There is a really cute scene where Cohen tells Meli that he wants Cage to be his daddy. He starts calling him daddy and he falls even more in love with the kid.

They receive a phone call at 4 am. The panic button has be activated at her mother's house. When they get to the house, her mother is at the hospital. She's been stabbed and beaten and they don't think she will make it. Cohen is gone. Cohen's grandmother (his dad's mom) has been trying to get custody of the little boy so when that tactic fails she kidnaps the boy. Meli's mother dies from her injuries and they have to admit Meli to the hospital and sedate her to calm her down. They get wind of where the woman might be headed and Cage does the only thing he can do. He calls Braxx and gives him the code for top priority emergency. He has to leave Meli at the hospital to go get his son. He meets Braxx at the airport and they end up at the house where they think Cohen is.

When they go into the house, Cage finds Mandy in the house having sex with the guy that helped kidnap Cohen. After a struggle with the guy, Braxx handles the situation. They find Cohen locked in a dark room dirty and hungry but unharmed. After taking care of Cohen, bathing and feeding him, they head home. Meli is doing better and is waiting for them at home.

2 months later they go to dinner with their friends and we find out that they ran off and got married. The epilogue takes place at the graves of her mother and sister. She tells them that the adoption papers have come though and she and Cage are now Cohen's parents. She also tells them that she's pregnant. She drives home to the boys rolling around in the front yard.

MY RATING...

I give this book 5 stars. A 5 star rating on a sequel in a series is rare for me but Harper Sloan pulled it off. I loved everything about this book. If you haven't read Axel you need to read it first so you can get a feel for Cage. I recommend this book for anyone who loves strong men who will do anything to protect their families and love fiercely! Read it, you will not be disappointed!

My Cage / Meli

Favorite Quotes:

"Trust me when I tell you that I have lived a life that makes me know when something is worth fighting for. I took one look at you and knew you were worth it to me. It's new, I get that, but I know you feel it too.""You're a good man, Greg Cage. You give me some time, and I might just fall in love with you.""That's the plan, Beauty."